Tyrol's Motivation

Television, Movies Games and Books BSG-2003
#1

I’m listening to RDM’s podcast and I can’t help but feel like he just admitted that it was more important to leave the vote in Ellen’s hands than to leave it open, and the writers were forced to give Galen Tyrol, a man who at this point has been entrusted with Galactica and returned to Chief status, a “leave” vote. We know Tory wants out and loves being a Cylon, we know Saul can’t leave his best friend, we know Anders said not to leave the fleet, and we know the decision has to rest on Ellen, sending Galen’s vote to the separatist side.

But why? Is it because Boomer is back and on a Basestar they could be together? Is it because everyone knows he’s a Cylon and he can’t take it? Is it because of Hot Dog and Nicky? It seems to me that Tyrol is a duty-first kind of guy, and he has put years of his life into maintaining Galactica and is now heading its retrofitting with Cylon technology, a nice little metaphor for the fleet itself. He’s right back where he was at the start, and my take is that it’s where he wants to be.

It seems to me that the reason Tyrol voted to leave more to help focus the plot on Ellen (the “fulcrum” of the episode, per RDM) than for any overwhelming reason. Thoughts? Any additional insight into the head of a man who has lost his wife and the child he thought his son in a matter of months (insofar as it’s not his child)?

#2

I think that sums it up. He’s duty-oriented, but not exclusively so, like Tigh. Everything he thought he had has been ripped away, why not just go hang on the basestar? (I may forgive the retconning of Cally for this.)

#3

From Aaron Douglas himself on the Tyrol question

In many ways I agree with all of you. I am still totally convinced that Tyrol would leave but I do have my own reasons why he would…

Tyrols judgement is clouded and we can see that by the fact that he ignores the pleas of Anders to stay with the ship.

All will be revealed, have patience my young apprentices…

Jane Espenson is one of the finest writers I have ever met. She was not just a writer of singular episodes but she is a true force in the breaking of stories, the shaping of each script, the development of characters and is always makes herself available for questions and discussions. Let’s not forget that it was Jane who wrote the incredible episode where Adama busts the Chief down to private, one of my favorite scenes of the entire show.

Last nights episode was more of the ‘information’ ep like the last one. The remaining few eps will really inform this episode.

Have patience…

AD

from Battlestar Blog & The Chief’s Deck

#4

Wow, what great stuff, Aset! Thanks!

#5

Did anybody notice the almost fully regenerated basestar in the background of Galactica in this past episode? I am wondering if this “wondergoo” is going to take on a form of its own and “reshape” Galactica. Probably not, not enough time left in the series.
I’ll be over here in the corner, staring at the wall, thinking about another post i can bring to a halt.

#6

I’ve wondered the same, if the Basestar is like a giant Cylon (being run by a head-tripping Cylon, carrying around lots of different other kinds of Cylons) that is slowly repairing itself. Can they do that?

#7

I think they’ve said that Basestars can heal.

#8

Thank you Aset, that helped.

I’ve been trying to figure out why, last episode the Chief felt like he was back, and in this episode, he felt aloof and detached again. But maybe Tyrol can’t help his aloofness and detachment. After all the changes and shocks and revelations, he can never go back to ignorance.

#9

No I didn’t. I’ll have to check that out. Tks.

And welcome aboard Laughing Man.